Game equipment



S- A. UNGAR GAME EQUIPMENT April 1, 1969 INVENTOR. Smvooe Q. liven/e Sheet- W2 M 77- Tole/V55 Filed June 26, 1967 April 1, 1969 UNGAR 3,436,081

GAME EQUIPMENT Filed June 26., 1967 Sheet 3 of 2 limo 4.

INVENTOR. Snxvooxa .Q. lf/vsne United States Patent 3,436,081 GAME EQUIPMENT Sandor A. Ungar, 6524 Long Ridge Ave., Van Nuys, Calif. 91401 Filed June 26, 1967, Ser. No. 648,603 Int. Cl. A63f 1/10, 9/00; B65d /52 US. Cl. 273148 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Until this invention, conventional game equipment having a plurality of game pieces was relatively complicated to manufacture and to assemble because of the many parts required to construct a suitable container with support features for game pieces.

Further, where a plurality of players are present in a particular game, such conventional game equipment failed to provide containers having a plurality of support members for each players game pieces, as well as support members which could be readily detached from the containers for the game pieces, and used to maintain the game pieces in a substantially upright position.

Particularly with reference to card games, conventional game equipment failed to provide means by which the cards, or pieces containing identifications similar to cards, could be supported by support members other than a persons hands and fingers, so that other players of the game would be unable to see the hand held by an other player of the game.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide equipment for facilitating the playing of various games, including card games such as rummy, gin rummy, and contract rummy, which employ game. pieces bearing various identifications of value.

Another object of my invention is to provide a container for convenient holding of the game pieces used in playing such games.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a container as previously mentioned and formed in part with a plurality of members capable of being detached from the container for use as support means previously mentioned.

A yet further object of my invention is to provide a container to hold game pieces bearing various identifications for playing games, including various card games, which pieces are relatively easy to manufacture, handle, and store in the container.

These and other objects will be more readily understood 'by reference to the following specification and claim, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which- FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one of the pieces bearing an identified value to be used in conjunction with box elements.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of my invention illustrating a box with top and bottom covers in place.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 with the top covers of the box removed and showing the game pieces stored therein.

FIGURE 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURES 2 and 3 but with the top and bottom covers and game pieces removed.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a box cover in upright position and supporting game pieces for use in playing a game.

FIGURE 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of FIG- URE 6.

With respect to the drawings, the game equipment includes a generally rectangular box member 10 open at its top and bottom, and with parallel side walls 12 and parallel ends at right angles to the side walls 12. The side walls 12 have longitudinal grooves 16 in their upper interior surfaces. A corresponding groove 16 is formed in the upper interior surface of end 18 of the box member 10.

Longitudinal grooves 20 are formed in the lower interior surfaces of sidewalls 12, as Well as in the lower interior surface of end 18 of the box member 10.

End 21 of the box member 10 has its top edge 22 on the same level as the bottom portion of grooves 16 and its lower edge 23 at the same level as the top portion of grooves 20.

The game equipment includes two mutually interlocking top covers 24 and 26 to close the top of box member 10 and two mutually interlocking bottom covers 28 and 30 to close the bottom of box member 10. Each of the four covers 24, 26, 28, and 30, is interchangeable with each other in closing the box member 10 and in actual use in playing games with the game equipment.

Covers 24, 26, 28 and 30, each have a generally fiat back surface 32 and a flat longitudinal base 34 which is formed at right angles to back surface 32. The back surface of base 34 is planar with back surface 32.

The front portion of base 34 is formed into a shelf 36 with a generally level top surface 38 and bottom surface 39 formed at right angles to the front side 40 of shelf 36. The front side 40 of shelf 36 is generally parallel to the back surface 32 of the covers.

The covers have a lower front surface 42 and an upper front surface 44. The lower front surface 42 begins at the back of shelf 36 and is parallel to the back surface 32 and has its top portion formed into a recessed horizontal ledge 45 which is parallel to the shelf 36. Ledge 45 has a top surface 46 which is level and formed at right angles to lower front surface 42.

Upper front surface 44 begins at the back of ledge 45 and is parallel to back surface 32 and has a level top 47 formed at right angles to back surface 32 and upper front surface 44.

Sides 48 of the covers are flat and are at right angles to the back surface 32 and to the lower front surface 42 and to the upper front surface.

Covers 24, 26, 28, and 30, each have a slit 49 in the bottom of base 34 to receive a base stabilizing member 50. The base stabilizing member 50 is preferably formed with a fiat shank member 51 terminating at one end in a flange 52 inclined toward the shank 51 at a suitable angle less than degrees.

End 21 of box 10 has a securing or stop member 54 pivotally mounted at 55 to maintain the covers 24, 26, 28, and 30 in position when assembled inside the box. Various other means may be used to secure the covers inside the box 10. The box 10, covers 24, 26, 28, and 30, the stabilizing member 48, and stop member 54, each may be made from any suitable material, such as Wood, various plastic materials, metal, and the like.

As shown in the drawings, the game pieces 56 are preferably oblong in shape, with rounded corners 58, and parallel fiat surfaces 60. Various methods may be used to indicate values for the game pieces 56 in playing various types of games. The game pieces 56 are adapted for compact storage in the box as shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawings and for placement in a substantially vertical position on a cover as shown in FIGURE 6. The game pieces 56 may be made from any suitable material such as wood, various plastics, metal, or cardboard, and the like.

In operation, the box 10 may be used initially as a storage means for the game pieces 56. Bottom covers 28 and 30 are superimposed, one on the other, as shown in FIGURES 2, 3, 4, and 5, so that the lower front surface 42 of one cover contacts the upper front surface 44 of the other cover, with the top surfaces 46 of each ledge 45 in contact with one another. In this position, the two bottom covers 28 and 30 form an oblong with bases 34 on each side and sides 48 forming ends of the oblong. In this position, the two bottom covers 28 and 30 may be inserted in grooves to close the bottom box 10. Game pieces 56 may then be stacked in rows on the top of the bottom covers 28 and 30.

Covers and 26 are then superimposed in the same manner as covers 28 and 30, and then inserted in grooves 16 to close the top of box 10. The securing member 54 is then placed in a vertical position to maintain covers in place.

To play a game, the box 10, initially fully closed with game pieces 56 stored therein, is opened by moving the securing member 54 from its vertical position securing the box covers, to a horizontal position permitting removal of covers 24, 26, 28, and 30. The covers are then placed in a substantially vertical position, and the stabilizing members 48 are preferably placed in the slits 46 for greater stability of the covers in an upright position.

The game pieces '56 are then removed from the box 10 and are stacked face down in the desired number of stacks for playing the particular game desired. The box 10 will hold at least 52 individual game pieces 44 and more, thereby providing at least as many playing pieces as a standard deck of playing cards.

Since the covers receive as many individual game pieces 44 as there would be playing cards held in a persons hand, the use of my invention obviates the use of a persons hand for holding cards in playing card games. Thus, persons using my game equipment have their hands and fingers completely free for other uses, and can then concentrate better on the game without concern for dropping cards being held in their hands.

Since my invention preferably uses game pieces 56 with identifying symbols on one side only, a player using my invention may turn his game pieces over to prevent disclosure of his game pieces to other players.

After the game is over, the bottom covers 28 and may be readily re-inserted as before in grooves 20 of box 10, the game pieces 56 then stored in box 10, the top covers 24 and 26 re-inserted into grooves 16, and the securing member 54 moved to a vertical position, thereby securing the covers and contents of box 10.

The fully assembled game equipment may be then readily transported to another location for re-use as desired.

Although I have described my invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A generally rectangular box member with an open top and open bottom and having parallel side walls and parallel ends at right angles to said side walls, said side walls and one end having upper longitudinal grooves in their upper interior surfaces, and lower longitudinal grooves in their lower interior surfaces;

two interchangeable top covers, each having an upper and lower front surface and a generally flat back surface and a flat longitudinal base formed at right angles to the back surface and into a shelf, said back surface being planar with the back of said base, and a horizontal ledge at the top of said lower front surface above and parallel to said shelf, said top covers being interlocking and capable of being superimposed one on the other so that the lower front surface of one cover is in contact with the upper front surface of the other cover, with their respective bases parallel to each other and insertable into said upper longitudinal grooves in the upper interior surfaces of said side walls and end to close the top of said box;

two interchangeable bottom covers, each interchangeable with each top cover and each having an upper and lower front surface and a generally flat back surface and a flat longitudinal base formed at right angles to the back surface into a shelf, said back surface being planar with the back of said base, and a horizontal ledge at the top of said lower front surface above and parallel to Said shelf, said bottom covers being interlocking and capable of being superimposed one in the other so that the lower front surface is in contact with the other front surface of the other cover, with their respective bases parallel to each other and insertable into said lower longitudinal grooves in the lower interior surfaces of said side walls and end to close the bottom of said box;

and means for securing said top and bottom covers in position when inserted into said grooves after game pieces have been stored inside said box member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,484,472 2/1924 Cowen 273- 1,509,773 9/1924 Parker 273-150 2,913,137 11/1959 Alatorre 22041 X FOREIGN PATENTS 617,868 11/1926 France.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

